Congress Bans Abusive Trigger Lead Practices After Mortgage Broker & Industry Push

The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) welcomes the passage of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that limits the sale of trigger leads. With the Senate passing the House version on August 2, the bill has officially cleared Congress and now heads to the President’s desk. The BAC urges President Trump to sign the bill into law without delay.

The passage of this bill through Congress marks the culmination of a multi-year advocacy effort—driven by the BAC, its advocates, and coalition partners. Led by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), this united effort aimed to ban abusive trigger lead practices and curb the sale of consumer data without consent. This legislative victory would not have been possible without the leadership of Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN).

Why Brokers Fought to End Trigger Leads

When a consumer applies for a mortgage and their credit is pulled, credit bureaus sell that data as “trigger leads”—including personal details like full name, contact information, and credit score range. Solicitors buy these leads and unleash a barrage of calls, texts, and emails, overwhelming homebuyers at a critical point in the process. All of this is done without the consumer's permission or proper disclosure.

Some solicitors blur compliance boundaries, using deceptive language to imply connections with brokers or lenders. In addition to violating basic data privacy expectations, these tactics erode consumer trust and have been especially harmful to first-time homebuyers, non-native English speakers, and other vulnerable borrowers.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act ends these abusive practices while preserving narrow exceptions for pre-existing relationships and giving consumers the power to opt in.

Thank You to the Partners Who Powered the Push

Advocacy at this level doesn’t happen alone. It takes investment, commitment, and shared belief in what’s possible. The BAC is proud to recognize the partners that helped make this win possible: Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM), Pennymac TPO, The Loan Store, Inc., Rocket Pro, Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. (PRMG), Freedom Mortgage Wholesale Division, Newfi Wholesale, Gold Star Wholesale, and West Capital Lending. These partners stood alongside brokers and homebuyers to champion stronger consumer protections and real industry change.

Continued Commitment to Homebuyer & Broker Interests

“The BAC was built to channel broker priorities into real policy wins. When we launched, we asked our earliest supporters to help set the agenda. The response was overwhelmingly clear: ending abusive trigger leads was our top priority. Today’s congressional action delivered on that,” said Brendan McKay, BAC Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder. “This victory shows what’s possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.”

“This is a major win—but it’s just the beginning,” added Rachel Clark, BAC Executive Director. “If you want more of this kind of progress, brokers need to keep showing up—and start funding the fight.”

About the Broker Action Coalition

The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) is the grassroots advocacy channel uniting mortgage brokers and their supporters to fight for broker and homebuyer rights nationwide. The BAC aims to level the playing field between independent mortgage brokers and retail banks, to support inclusive homebuying policy change, and to fight for the needs of Veterans, minorities, and underserved communities to make the American dream of homeownership possible for more people than ever before. For more information or to support our advocacy efforts, visit https://www.brokeractioncoalition.com/.

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“This victory shows what’s possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.” Brendan McKay, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder of the BAC